1976 South Carolina Code of Laws
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Updated through the end of the 2001 Session

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Title 58 - Public Utilities, Services and Carriers

CHAPTER 27.

ELECTRIC UTILITIES AND ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES

ARTICLE 1.

GENERAL PROVISIONS

SECTION 58-27-10. Definitions.

When used in this chapter:

The term "Commission" means the Public Service Commission of this State.

The term "commissioner" means one of the members of the Public Service Commission of this State.

The term "corporation" includes all bodies corporate, joint-stock companies or associations, domestic or foreign, their lessees, assignees, trustees, receivers or other successors in interest, having any of the powers or privileges of corporations not possessed by individuals or partnerships; but it shall not include municipalities as hereinafter defined.

The term "person" includes all individuals, partnerships or associations other than corporations.

The term "municipality" includes a city, town, county, township or any other corporation existing, created, or organized as a governmental unit under the Constitution or laws of this State except a consolidated political subdivision.

The term "public" means the public generally or any limited portion of the public, including a person, corporation or municipality.

The term "electrical utility" includes municipalities to the extent of their business, property, rates, transactions and operations without the corporate limits of the municipality, persons and corporations, their lessees, assignees, trustees, receivers or other successors in interest owning or operating in this State equipment or facilities for generating, transmitting, delivering or furnishing electricity for street, railway or other public uses or for the production of light, heat or power to or for the public for compensation; but it shall not include an electric cooperative or a consolidated political subdivision and shall not include a person, corporation or municipality furnishing electricity only to himself or itself, their residents, employees or tenants when such current is not resold or used by others.

The term "rate" means and includes every compensation, charge, toll, rental and classification, or any of them, demanded, observed, charged or collected by any electrical utility for any electric current or service offered by it to the public and any rules, regulations, practices or contracts affecting any such compensation, charge, toll, rental or classification.

The term "securities" means and includes stock, stock certificates, bonds, notes, debentures or other evidences of indebtedness and any assumption or guaranty thereof.

The term "consolidated political subdivision" means a consolidated political subdivision existing pursuant to the Constitution of this State, and shall not be deemed a city, town, county or other governmental unit merged thereinto.

SECTION 58-27-20. Chapter inapplicable to certain areas.

The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to the areas within former municipal corporate limits, where such municipality becomes a part of a consolidated political subdivision whenever such municipality owns and operates its own electric system and so long as such system continues to be owned and operated by the consolidated political subdivision.

SECTION 58-27-30. Corporations subject to chapter even before commencing operations.

Corporations formed to acquire property or to transact business which would be subject to the provisions of this chapter and corporations possessing franchises, powers or privileges for any of the purposes contemplated by this chapter shall be deemed to be subject to the provisions of this chapter, although no property may have been acquired, business transacted or franchises, powers or privileges exercised.

Each electrical utility and, to the extent covered by this Title, each electric cooperative and consolidated political subdivision shall obey and comply with all requirements of every order, decision, direction, rule or regulation made or prescribed by the Public Service Commission made under this chapter or in relation to any other matter in any way relating to or affecting the business of such electrical utility, electric cooperative or consolidated political subdivision and shall do everything necessary or proper in order to secure compliance with and observance of every such order, decision, direction, rule or regulation by all of its officers, agents and employees.

All expenses and charges incurred by the Commission in the administration of this chapter and in the performance of its duties thereunder shall be defrayed by assessments made by the Comptroller General against the electrical utilities regulated thereunder and based upon the gross revenues collected by such electrical utilities from their business done wholly within this State in the manner set out in Section 58-3-100 for other corporations.

The Public Service Commission shall certify to the Comptroller General annually on or before August first the amounts to be assessed in the format approved by the Comptroller General.

SECTION 58-27-60. Limitation on amount expendable by Commission.

The Commission shall not expend a greater sum than thirty-five thousand dollars yearly, if so much be necessary, to meet the obligations arising out of the administration of this chapter.

SECTION 58-27-70. Employment of staff; duty of Attorney General.

The Commission may employ such technical administrative and clerical staff as it may deem necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter and to perform the duties and exercise the powers conferred upon it by law in relation to electrical utilities. The Attorney General shall be the legal head of suits or actions arising under this chapter.

SECTION 58-27-80. Annual report of Commission.

As a separate section or division of the annual report which it is now required by law to make the Commission annually shall file a report containing a full and complete account of its transactions and proceedings under this chapter for the preceding calendar year, together with such other pertinent facts, suggestions and recommendations as it may deem of value to the people of the State.

SECTION 58-27-90. Effect of chapter on constitutional rights and powers of municipalities.

Nothing contained in this chapter shall be so construed as to modify, abridge or impair any of the rights or powers granted to cities and towns under the provisions of article VIII, sections 15 and 16, or any other provisions of the Constitution of this State, and every right, power or privilege conferred upon any city or town by the Constitution of this State otherwise appearing to be modified, abridged or impaired by any provision of this chapter is to be deemed excepted from the operation thereof, it being the intention of this chapter to control and regulate the acts of cities and towns only to an extent consistent with the Constitution of this State.

Nothing contained in this chapter shall be so construed as to limit or restrict the right of cities and towns to adopt and enforce reasonable police regulations and ordinances affecting electrical utilities, not inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter, in the interest of public safety, morals, convenience, health and good order.

SECTION 58-27-110. Effect of chapter on interstate commerce.

Neither this chapter nor any provision thereof shall apply or be construed to apply to commerce with foreign nations or commerce among the several states of the United States, except in so far as the same may be permitted under the provisions of the Constitution of the United States and the acts of Congress.

SECTION 58-27-120. Effect of chapter on duties declared in Broad River case.

Neither anything contained in this chapter, any duty thereby imposed, any right, power or privilege thereby granted, the exercise, receipt or acceptance of any right, privilege or permit under the authority of this chapter nor any act done under the authority of this chapter shall be so construed or given such effect as to abrogate, modify or in any way affect the duties and obligations of electrical or other public utilities, or any of them, as declared by the Supreme Court of South Carolina in the case of State ex rel. Daniel, Attorney General v Broad River Power Company, et al., 157 SC 1, 153 SE 537, nor shall any electrical or other public utility now or hereafter be released to any extent whatever from any obligation or duty now imposed by the law of the State of South Carolina as therein declared.

Subject to the same duties and liabilities, all the rights, powers, and privileges conferred upon telegraph and telephone companies to acquire rights-of-way for the construction, maintenance, and operation of lines under Sections 58-9-2020 to 58-9-2030 are granted unto electric lighting and power companies incorporated under the laws of this State, or to those companies incorporated under the laws of any other state which have complied with the laws of this State regulating foreign corporations doing business in this State, and to state authorities and rural electric cooperatives, and the right is also granted to those companies and authorities and rural electric cooperatives to acquire fee simple title or an easement in land by a condemnation action, for the construction of electric generating plants, substations, switching stations, and impounding of waters to be used in conjunction with electric generating plants. No property or rights used for the generation or transmission of electricity, or devoted to public use for such purposes, shall be condemned hereunder.

SECTION 58-27-140. General powers of Commission.

The Commission may, upon its own motion or upon complaint:

(1) Ascertain and fix just and reasonable standards, classifications, regulations, practices or service to be furnished, imposed, observed and followed by any or all electrical utilities;

(2) Ascertain and fix adequate and reasonable standards for the measurement of quality, quantity, initial voltage or other condition pertaining to the supply of the product, commodity or service furnished or rendered by any or all electrical utilities;

(3) Prescribe reasonable regulations for the examination and testing of such product, commodity or service and for the measurement thereof;

(4) Establish or approve reasonable rules, regulations, specifications and standards to secure the accuracy of all meters and appliances for measurement; and

(5) Provide for the examination and testing of any and all appliances used for the measurement of the product, commodity or service of any electrical utility.

SECTION 58-27-150. Promulgation of rules and regulations.

The Commission may make such rules and regulations not inconsistent with law as may be proper in the exercise of its powers or for the performance of its duties under this chapter, all of which shall have the force of law.

SECTION 58-27-160. Investigation and examination of condition and management of utility.

The Commission may, on its own motion and whenever it may be necessary in the performance of its duties, investigate and examine the condition and management of electrical utilities or any particular electrical utility. In conducting such investigations the Commission may proceed either with or without a hearing as it may deem best.

SECTION 58-27-170. Joint investigations, hearings and orders with other state or Federal boards or commissions.

The Commission may make joint investigations, hold joint hearings and issue joint or concurrent orders in conjunction or concurrence with any official board or commission of any state or of the United States. Whether in the holding of such investigations or hearings or in the making of such orders the Commission shall function under agreements or compacts between states or under the concurrent power of states to regulate interstate commerce or as an agency of the Federal Government or otherwise.

SECTION 58-27-180. Valuations and revaluations of property of utilities.

The Commission may after hearing ascertain and fix the value of the whole or any part of the property of any electrical utility insofar as the same is material to the exercise of the jurisdiction of the Commission and may make revaluations from time to time and ascertain the value of all new construction, extensions and additions to the property of every electrical utility.

SECTION 58-27-190. Inspection of property; audit of books; examination of employees of utilities.

The Commission, each commissioner and each person employed by the Commission shall have the right at any and all times to inspect the property, plant and facilities of any electrical utility and to inspect or audit at reasonable times the accounts, books, papers and documents of any electrical utility. For the purposes herein mentioned the Commission, each commissioner and each person employed by the Commission may during all reasonable hours enter upon any premises occupied by or under the control of any electrical utility. The Commission, each commissioner and any employee of the Commission authorized to administer oaths shall have power to examine under oath any officer, agent or employee of such electrical utility in relation to the business and affairs of such electrical utility, but written record of the testimony or statement so given under oath shall be made and filed with the Commission. Any person other than a commissioner demanding the right to perform any act authorized by this section shall produce written authority from the Commission authenticated by its seal.

SECTION 58-27-200. Inspection of tax returns and other information.

In the performance of its duties under this chapter the Commission, any commissioner or any agent or employee of the Commission with written authority from the Commission authenticated by its seal may inspect or make copies of all income, property or other tax returns, reports or other information filed by electrical utilities with or otherwise obtained by any other department, commission, board or agency of the State government and all such other departments, commissions, boards or agencies of the State government shall permit the same to be done.

SECTION 58-27-210. Actions to prevent or discontinue violations of law or orders of Commission.

Whenever it shall appear that any electrical utility, electric cooperative or consolidated political subdivision is failing or omitting, or about to fail or omit, to do anything required of it by law or by order of the Commission or is doing, or about to do anything or permitting or about to permit anything to be done contrary to or in violation of law or of any order of the Commission, an action or proceeding shall be prosecuted in any court of competent jurisdiction in the name of the Commission or the State for the purpose of having such violation or threatened violation discontinued or prevented, either by mandamus, injunction or other appropriate relief, and in such action or proceeding, it shall be permissible to join such other persons, corporations, municipalities or consolidated political subdivisions as parties thereto as may be reasonably necessary to make the order of the court in all respects effective.

In addition to the foregoing expressly enumerated powers the Commission shall enforce, execute, administer and carry out by its order, ruling, regulation or otherwise all the provisions of this chapter relating to the powers, duties, limitations and restrictions imposed upon electrical utilities by this chapter or any other provisions of the law of this State regulating electrical utilities.

SECTION 58-27-230. Exercise of other powers of Commission not excluded.

The enumeration of the powers of the Commission as herein set forth shall not be construed to exclude the exercise of any power which the Commission would otherwise have under the provisions of law.

SECTION 58-27-240. Construction of South Carolina Rural Development Act of 1996.

No provision of the South Carolina Rural Development Act of 1996 may be construed to alter, modify, amend, or repeal, directly or by implication, any provision of Chapter 27 of Title 58, Chapter 31 of Title 58, Chapter 33 of Title 58, Chapter 23 of Title 6, Chapter 7 of Title 5, and Chapter 31 of Title 5, governing, among other things, the retail and wholesale distribution and sale of electric energy in this State.

All cities and towns of the State may grant the exclusive franchise of furnishing light to such cities and towns and the inhabitants thereof. But no such franchise shall be valid unless it shall first receive the vote of two thirds of the board of aldermen or common council of the city or town granting it and be subsequently confirmed by a vote of the majority of the qualified electors of the city or town, voting at an election called specially for the purpose. The ordinance or resolution granting such a franchise shall fix a maximum rate for furnishing light, both for public and private consumption and the person obtaining such exclusive franchise shall have no power to charge or receive any greater price for light thus furnished than the maximum rate so fixed. No such franchise shall affect any existing contractual rights.

SECTION 58-27-420. Franchises and permits shall be indeterminate.

Every permit or franchise hereafter granted to any electrical utility, either by the State or any municipality thereof, shall have the effect of an indeterminate permit which shall continue in effect until terminated as provided by this chapter or by any lawful forfeiture of the right of such electrical utility to continue to conduct its business in this State.

SECTION 58-27-430. Exchange of old limited permit or franchise for indeterminate permit.

Any electrical utility operating under an existing permit or franchise heretofore granted by the State or any municipality thereof prescribing a definite period of years for the existence of such permit or franchise shall, upon (a) filing with the Commission a written declaration that it surrenders such permit or franchise, (b) the consent of such municipality and (c) proof of any consent that may be required by article VIII, section 15, of the Constitution of this State, receive an indeterminate permit which shall take the place of the surrendered permit or franchise, and such electrical utility or its successors or assigns shall hold such permit in accordance with the terms, conditions and limitations of this chapter and any future regulatory acts. If, for any reason, any indeterminate permit held by a public utility is held to be invalid the public utility shall, by operation of law and without further act, have reinstated in it any franchise or franchises surrendered by it in exchange for such indeterminate permit.

SECTION 58-27-440. Revocation of indeterminate permit for inadequacy of service.

Whenever the service rendered by any electrical utility operating under an indeterminate permit shall be found inadequate by order of the Commission after hearing and such electrical utility shall fail to remedy the same after having been given a reasonable opportunity to do so, the indeterminate permit enjoyed by such electrical utility in respect to the service so found to be inadequate may with the consent of such municipality be declared revoked by the Commission upon such terms as shall be reasonable and just. But no order of the Commission revoking any such permit shall have any force and effect until a final determination of any proceeding brought to review the same.

SECTION 58-27-450. Continuance of service on expiration of franchise.

Any electrical utility which has been furnishing electricity to a city or town or its inhabitants under a franchise that has expired shall, with such consent of the local authorities as may be required by article VIII, section 15, of the Constitution of this State, until a new permit for supplying electricity to such city or town or its inhabitants lawfully has been obtained, continue to furnish the same to such city or town or its inhabitants under such rates and upon such terms and conditions as may be approved by the Commission.

ARTICLE 5.

SERVICE RIGHTS OF ELECTRIC SUPPLIERS

SECTION 58-27-610. Definitions.

When used in this article:

(1) The term "electric supplier" means any electrical utility other than a municipality, any electric cooperative other than an electric cooperative engaged primarily in the business of furnishing electricity to other electric cooperatives for resale to other electric consumers, and any consolidated political subdivision owning or operating an electric plant or system for furnishing of electricity to the public for compensation.

(2) The term "premises" means the building, structure or facility to which electricity is being or is to be furnished; provided, that two or more buildings, structures or facilities which are located on one tract or contiguous tracts of land and are utilized by one electric consumer for farming, business, commercial, industrial, institutional or governmental purposes, shall together constitute one "premises," except that any such building, structure or facility shall not, together with any other building, structure or facility, constitute one "premises" if the electric service to it is separately metered and the charges for such service are calculated independently of charges for service to any other building, structure or facility.

(3) The term "line" means any electric conductor operating at a nominal voltage level of 25 KV or less, measured phase-to-phase, except (a) in the case of overhead construction, a conductor from the pole or tower nearest the premises of a consumer to such premises, or a conductor from a line tap to such premises, and (b) in the case of underground construction, a conductor from the transformer (or junction point, if there be one) nearest, on or in the premises of the consumer to such premises; provided, the term "line" shall include any electric conductor operating at a nominal voltage level in excess of 25 KV and less than 48 KV where it is established to the satisfaction of the other electric suppliers in the county or counties where such conductor is located, or in the absence of such agreement, to the satisfaction of the Public Service Commission, that the primary purpose and use of such conductor is for the distribution of electric power and not for the transmission of bulk power from one area to another; and, provided, further, that the term "line" shall include any other electric conductor operating at a nominal voltage level in excess of 25 KV and less than 48 KV, except that, until it is determined that such conductor is a distribution line in accordance with the preceding proviso, the service rights with respect to premises located wholly within three hundred feet of such conductor shall not be exclusive.

(4) The term "industrial premises" means the premises of a person, firm or corporation engaged in the business of manufacture, processing, assembling, fabrication or related work.

SECTION 58-27-620. Service rights of and restrictions on electric suppliers.

With respect to service in all areas outside the corporate limits of municipalities, electric suppliers shall have rights and be subject to restrictions as follows:

(1) Every electric supplier shall have the right to serve:

(a) All premises being served by it, or to which any of its facilities for service are attached on July 1, 1969.

(b) Subject to paragraph (d) (i) of this subsection, all premises initially requiring electric service after July 1, 1969, which are located wholly within three hundred feet of such electric supplier's lines as such lines exist on July 1, 1969.

(c) Subject to paragraph (d) (i) of this subsection, all premises initially requiring electric service after July 1, 1969, which are located wholly within three hundred feet of lines that such electric supplier constructs to serve consumers that it has the right to serve or acquires after July 1, 1969; provided, however, that an electric supplier shall not have the right to serve premises wholly within a service area assigned to another electric supplier pursuant to Section 58-27-640 from a line constructed after the date of such assignment.

(d) If chosen by the consumer, any premises initially requiring electric service after July 1, 1969,

(i) Which are located wholly or partially within three hundred feet of the lines of such electric supplier and also wholly or partially within three hundred feet of the lines of another electric supplier, as each of such supplier's lines exist on July 1, 1969 or as extended to serve consumers that the supplier has the right to serve or as acquired after July 1, 1969,

(ii) Which are not located wholly within three hundred feet of the lines of any electric supplier and are not located partially within three hundred feet of the lines of two or more electric suppliers, unless such premises are located wholly or partially within an area assigned to an electric supplier pursuant to Section 58-27-640,

(iii) Which are located partially within a service area assigned to such electric supplier and partially within a service area assigned to another electric supplier pursuant to Section 58-27-640 or are located partially within a service area assigned to such electric supplier pursuant to Section 58-27-640 and partially within three hundred feet of the lines of another electric supplier, or are located partially within three hundred feet of the lines of such electric supplier, as such lines exist on July 1, 1969, or as extended to serve consumers it has the right to serve or as acquired after that date, and partially within a service area assigned to another electric supplier pursuant to Section 58-27-640, and

(iv) Which are located only partially within a service area assigned to one electric supplier pursuant to Section 58-27-640 and are located wholly outside the service area assigned to other electric suppliers and are located wholly more than three hundred feet from other electric suppliers' lines, and any electric supplier not so chosen by the consumer in any of the situations described in this paragraph (d) shall not thereafter furnish service to such premises. The choice of the consumer in the situations described in this paragraph (d) shall be controlling, and the Public Service Commission shall have no authority to order any other supplier to serve such consumer, except as provided in Section 58-27-660.

(e) All premises located wholly within the service area assigned to it pursuant to Section 58-27-640.

(2) Any electrical utility shall have the right to furnish electric service to any industrial premises initially requiring electric service after July 1, 1969 if requested in writing to provide such service and the connected load for initial full plant operation at such industrial premises is 750 kilowatts or larger, whether or not such industry is located wholly within three hundred feet of the lines of, or wholly within an area assigned, pursuant to Section 58-27-640 to an electric cooperative; provided, however, that no other consumer whose premises are located wholly within three hundred feet of the lines of, or wholly within an area assigned to, an electric cooperative may be served from a line or lines of the utility constructed to serve such industrial premises, except another such industrial premises. If an electrical utility is chosen to serve industrial premises pursuant to this subsection (2), no other electric suppliers shall thereafter furnish service to such premises.

(3) No electric supplier shall furnish temporary electric service for the construction of premises which it would not have the right to serve under this section if such premises were already constructed. The construction of lines for, and the furnishing of, temporary service for the construction of premises which any other electric supplier, if chosen by the consumer, would have the right to serve if such premises were already constructed, shall not impair the right of such other electric supplier to furnish service to such premises after the construction thereof, if then chosen by the consumer; nor, unless the consumer chooses to have such premises served by the supplier which furnished the temporary service, shall the furnishing of such temporary service or the construction of a line therefor impair the right of any other electric supplier to furnish service to any other premises which, without regard to the construction of such temporary service line, it has the right to serve.

(4) No electric supplier shall furnish electric service to any premises in this State outside the limits of any incorporated city or town except as permitted by this section; provided, that nothing in this section shall restrict the right of an electric supplier to furnish electric service to its own premises or to exchange or interchange electric energy with, purchase electric energy from or sell electric energy to any other electric supplier.

(5) In extending electric service to a consumer an electric supplier will, insofar as possible, construct its facilities in accordance with good utility practices.

(6) Any electric cooperative which is engaged primarily in the furnishing of electricity for resale to other electric cooperatives shall have the right to furnish such electricity for resale to all electric cooperatives but shall not furnish electric service to any other customers or premises.

(7) Upon consolidation of the units of government within any county, pursuant to the Constitution of this State, existing municipal electric plants or systems within such county may continue in operation under the consolidated political subdivision and shall be subject to this chapter except within those areas as provided for in Section 58-27-20. For the purposes of this chapter a consolidated political subdivision shall not be deemed a municipality and the corporate limits of municipalities merged into the consolidated political subdivision shall be deemed to cease to exist upon consolidation except for the purposes of Sections 58-27-20 and 58-27-630.

SECTION 58-27-630. Service rights and restrictions in areas within consolidated political subdivisions.

Whenever there is a consolidation of government as authorized under the Constitution of this State, the rights of and restrictions on electric suppliers as provided for in Section 58-27-620 shall apply to areas within the corporate limits of a municipality being merged into a consolidated political subdivision except a municipality owning and operating a municipal electric system and shall be established as of the date of consolidation rather than on July 1, 1969, as provided for in Section 58-27-620. On the date of such consolidations the same rights granted to and restrictions imposed upon other electric suppliers shall be granted to and imposed upon existing municipal systems as to areas within the consolidated political subdivision but outside the previously existing corporate limits of the municipality owning and operating such a system.

SECTION 58-27-640. Assignment of service areas.

The Public Service Commission shall assign, beginning as soon as practicable after January 1, 1970, to electric suppliers, all areas, by adequately defined boundaries which may be by reference to boundaries drawn on maps or otherwise, that are outside the corporate limits of municipalities, and that are more than three hundred feet from the lines of all electric suppliers as such lines exist on the dates of the assignments; provided, that the Commission may leave unassigned any area in which the Commission, in its discretion, determines the absence of assignment is justified by public convenience and necessity. The Commission shall make assignments of areas in accordance with public convenience and necessity considering, among other things, the location of existing lines and facilities of electric suppliers and the adequacy and dependability of the service of electric suppliers, but not considering rate differentials among electric suppliers.

Upon consolidation of the units of government within any county pursuant to the Constitution of this State, the Commission shall initially assign the areas that were within the corporate limits of the municipality merged into the consolidated political subdivision and that are more than three hundred feet from the lines of all electric suppliers as such lines exist on the date of the consolidation to the electric supplier including any existing municipal systems then serving within such areas, subject to the power of the Commission to leave any area unassigned or to reassign any area and subject to Sections 58-27-20, 58-27-630 and 58-27-650.

SECTION 58-27-650. Reassignment of service areas or portions thereof.

(A) The Public Service Commission, upon agreement of the affected electric suppliers, is authorized to reassign to one electric supplier any area or portion of the area assigned to another and, notwithstanding the lack of an agreement, the commission upon its own motion or upon complaint by any electric supplier or county or consolidated political subdivision within this State, after notice to all affected electric suppliers and after hearing, if a hearing is requested by any affected electric supplier or any other interested party, is authorized to reassign to one electric supplier any area or portion of the area assigned to another, except premises being served by the other electric supplier or to which any of its facilities for service are attached and except the portions of the area as are within three hundred feet of the other electric supplier's lines, upon a finding that the reassignment is required by public convenience and necessity. In determining whether public convenience and necessity require the reassignment, the commission shall consider among other things the adequacy and dependability of the service of the affected electric suppliers, but may not consider rate differentials between the electric suppliers.

(B) The Public Service Commission has the authority and jurisdiction, if a hearing is requested by any affected electric supplier or municipality, to order any electric supplier to cease and desist from furnishing electric service inside an assigned area which has been annexed into a municipality upon a finding that service to existing consumers by the electric supplier which is then furnishing service, or which has the right to furnish service to the premises, is or will be inadequate or undependable, and cannot or will not be made adequate or dependable within a reasonable time, or that the rates, conditions of service, or service regulations, applied to the consumers, are unreasonably discriminatory. In determining the adequacy and dependability of service or whether rates, conditions of service, or service regulations are unreasonably discriminatory, the commission may not consider rate differentials between the affected electric suppliers or municipality or differences in the provisions of utility service other than electrical services. Upon a finding of inadequate, undependable, or unreasonably discriminatory service, the commission shall order necessary improvements or corrections or the sale of the facilities in accordance with Section 58-27-1360.

SECTION 58-27-660. Supplier may furnish service in area served by another.

Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 58-27-620 and 58-27-640:

(1) Any electric supplier may furnish electric service to any consumer who desires service from such electric supplier at any premises being served by another electric supplier, or at premises which another electric supplier has the right to serve pursuant to other provisions of this article, upon agreement of the affected electric suppliers.

(2) The Public Service Commission shall have the authority and jurisdiction, after notice to all affected electric suppliers and after hearing, if a hearing is requested by any affected electric supplier or any other interested party, to order any electric supplier which may reasonably do so to furnish electric service to any consumer who desires service from such electric supplier at any premises being served by another electric supplier, or at premises which another electric supplier has the right to serve pursuant to other provisions of this article, and to order such other electric supplier to cease and desist from furnishing electric service to such premises, upon a finding that service to such consumer by the electric supplier which is then furnishing service, or which has the right to furnish service, to such premises, is or will be inadequate or undependable, and cannot or will not be made adequate and dependable within a reasonable time, or that the rates, conditions of service or service regulations, applied to such consumer, are unreasonably discriminatory.

SECTION 58-27-670. Service in area becoming part of municipality.

The furnishing of electric service in any area which becomes a part of any municipality after the effective date of this section, either by annexation or incorporation, whether or not the area, or any portion of the area has been assigned pursuant to Section 58-27-640, is subject to the provisions of Sections 58-27-1360 and 33-49-250, and any provisions of this article. No poles, wires, or other facilities of electric suppliers using the streets, alleys, or other public ways within the corporate limits of a municipality may be constructed by an electric supplier unless the consent of the municipal governing body is first obtained. Annexation may not be construed to increase, decrease, or affect any other right or responsibility a municipality, rural electric cooperative, or electrical utility may have with regard to supplying electric service in areas assigned by the Public Service Commission in accordance with Chapter 27 of Title 58.

SECTION 58-27-680. Effect of continuation of service.

The continuation of electric service under Section 58-27-670 must not be construed as affecting the authority of an electric supplier pursuant to Section 58-27-620 to serve premises which are already receiving electric service from a municipal electric system, whether inside or outside municipal boundaries.

Every rate made, demanded or received by any electrical utility or by any two or more electrical utilities jointly shall be just and reasonable.

SECTION 58-27-820. Schedule of rates, service rules and regulations and service contracts shall be filed with Commission.

Under such rules and regulations as the Commission may prescribe, every electrical utility shall file with the Commission, within such time and in such form as the Commission may designate, schedules showing all rates, service rules and regulations and forms of service contracts established by it and collected or enforced or to be collected or enforced within the jurisdiction of the Commission. Under such rules and regulations as the Commission may prescribe, every distribution electric cooperative and consolidated political subdivision shall file with the Commission, for information purposes, within such time and in such form as the Commission may designate, schedules showing all rates, service rules and regulations and forms of service contracts established by it. Each electrical utility, distribution electric cooperative, and consolidated political subdivision shall keep copies of such schedules open to public inspection under such rules and regulations as the Commission may prescribe.

SECTION 58-27-830. Utility shall not charge rates different from those in schedule.

No electrical utility shall directly or indirectly, by any device whatsoever or in any way, charge, demand, collect or receive from any person, corporation or municipality a greater or less compensation for any electric current or service rendered or supplied or to be rendered or supplied by such electrical utility than that prescribed in the schedules of such electrical utility applicable thereto then on file in the manner provided in this chapter, nor shall any person, corporation or municipality receive or accept any service, electric current, product or commodity from an electric utility for a compensation greater or less than that prescribed in such schedules.

SECTION 58-27-840. Preferences and unreasonable differences in rates shall not be made; classifications may be established.

No electrical utility, distribution electric cooperative or consolidated political subdivision shall, as to rates or services, make or grant any unreasonable preference or advantage to any person, corporation, municipality or consolidated political subdivision to its unreasonable prejudice or disadvantage. No electrical utility, distribution electric cooperative or consolidated political subdivision shall establish or maintain any unreasonable difference as to rates or service as between localities or as between classes of service. Subject to the approval of the Commission, however, electrical utilities, distribution electric cooperatives and consolidated political subdivisions may establish classifications of rates and services and such classifications may take into account the conditions and circumstances surrounding the service, such as the time when used, the purpose for which used, the demand upon plant facilities, the value of the service rendered and any other reasonable consideration. The Commission may determine any question of fact arising under this section. The Commission shall not fix any rates charged by electric cooperatives or consolidated political subdivisions.

SECTION 58-27-850. Investigation and change of existing rates by Commission.

Whenever the Commission after a hearing, upon its own motion or upon complaint, finds that the existing rates in effect and collected by any electrical utility for any service, product or commodity are unjust, unreasonable, insufficient, unreasonably discriminatory or in any way in violation of any provision of law the Commission shall determine the just, reasonable, and sufficient rates to be thereafter observed and in force and shall fix the same by its order.

Whenever an electrical utility desires to put into operation a new rate it shall give not less than thirty days' notice of its intention to file and shall, after the expiration of the notice period, then file with the Commission a schedule setting forth the proposed changes. Copies of the schedule must also be given to other parties as the Commission may direct. Subject to the provisions of subsections (C) and (D) of Section 58-27-870, the proposed changes may not be put into effect in full or in part until approved by the Commission. Nothing contained in this section affects the existing provisions of Act 1293 of 1966.

(A) The words "fuel cost" as used in this section shall include the cost of fuel, fuel costs related to purchased power, and the cost of SO2 emission allowances as used and shall be reduced by the net proceeds of any sales of SO2 emission allowances by the utility.

(B) The commission shall direct each electrical utility which incurs fuel cost for the sale of electricity to submit to the commission, within such time and in such form as the commission may designate, its estimates of fuel costs for the next twelve months. The commission may hold a public hearing at any time between the twelve-month reviews to determine whether an increase or decrease in the base rate amount designed to recover fuel cost should be granted. Upon investigation of the estimate and conducting public hearings in accordance with law, the commission shall direct each company to place in effect in its base rate an amount designed to recover, during the succeeding twelve months, the fuel costs determined by the commission to be appropriate for that period, adjusted for the over-recovery or under-recovery from the preceding twelve-month period. The commission shall direct the electrical utilities to send notice to the utility customers with the antecedent billing of the time and place of the public hearings to be held every twelve months, and the commission shall again direct the electrical utilities to send notice to the utility customers with the next billing if the utility is granted a rate increase by the commission.

(C) The commission shall direct the electrical utilities to account monthly for the differences between the recovery of fuel costs through base rates and the actual fuel costs experienced, by booking the difference to unbilled revenues with a corresponding deferred debit or credit, the balance of which will be included in the projected fuel cost component of the base rates for the succeeding period. The commission shall direct the electrical utilities to submit monthly reports of fuel costs and monthly reports of all scheduled and unscheduled outages of generating units with a capacity of one hundred megawatts or greater.

(D) Upon request by the commission staff, the electrical utilities, or the Consumer Advocate, a public hearing must be held by the commission at any time between the twelve-month reviews to determine whether an increase or decrease in the base rate amount designed to recover fuel costs should be granted. If the request is by an electrical utility for a rate increase, the commission shall direct the utility to send notice of the request and hearing to all customers with the next billing, and if the commission grants the rate request subsequent to the request and hearing, the commission shall direct the utility to send notice of the amount of the increase or decrease to all customers with the next billing.

(E) The commission may offset, to the extent considered appropriate, the cost of fuel recovered through sales of power pursuant to interconnection agreements with neighboring electrical utilities against fuel costs to be recovered.

(F) The commission shall disallow recovery of any fuel costs that it finds without just cause to be the result of failure of the utility to make every reasonable effort to minimize fuel costs or any decision of the utility resulting in unreasonable fuel costs, giving due regard to reliability of service, economical generation mix, generating experience of comparable facilities, and minimization of the total cost of providing service. There shall be a rebuttable presumption that an electrical utility made every reasonable effort to minimize cost associated with the operation of its nuclear generation facility or system, as applicable, if the utility achieved a net capacity factor of ninety-two and one-half percent or higher during the period under review. The calculation of the net capacity factor shall exclude reasonable outage time associated with reasonable refueling, reasonable maintenance, reasonable repair, and reasonable equipment replacement outages; the reasonable reduced power generation experienced by nuclear units as they approach a refueling outage; the reasonable reduced power generation experienced by nuclear units associated with bringing a unit back to full power after an outage; Nuclear Regulatory Commission required testing outages unless due to the unreasonable acts of the utility; outages found by the commission not to be within the reasonable control of the utility; and acts of God. The calculation also shall exclude reasonable reduced power operations resulting from the demand for electricity being less than the full power output of the utility's nuclear generation system. If the net capacity factor is below ninety-two and one-half percent after reflecting the above specified outage time, then the utility shall have the burden of demonstrating the reasonableness of its nuclear operations during the period under review.

(G) The commission is authorized to promulgate, in accordance with the provisions of this section, all regulations necessary to allow the recovery by electrical utilities of all their prudently incurred fuel costs as precisely and promptly as possible, in a manner that tends to assure public confidence and minimize abrupt changes in charges to consumers.

(A) After a schedule setting forth the proposed changes in its rates or tariffs has been filed, the Commission shall hold a public hearing concerning the lawfulness or reasonableness of the proposed changes.

(B) When the proposed changes relate to rates or tariffs the Commission shall rule and issue its order approving or disapproving the changes within six months after the date the schedule is filed.

(C) Should the Commission determine that it cannot, due to circumstances reasonably beyond its control, issue such order within the six-month period prescribed by this section, the Commission, may, by order, extend the six-month period for an additional five days. Any such order shall set forth such circumstances and make appropriate findings concerning the need for the extended period.

If the Commission rules and issues its order within the time aforesaid, and the utility shall appeal from the order, by filing with the Commission a petition for rehearing, the utility may put the rates requested in its schedule into effect under bond only during the appeal and until final disposition of the case. Such bond must be in a reasonable amount approved by the Commission, with sureties approved by the Commission, conditioned upon the refund, in a manner to be prescribed by order of the Commission, to the persons, corporations, or municipalities respectively entitled to the amount of the excess, if the rate or rates put into effect are finally determined to be excessive; or there may be substituted for the bond other arrangements satisfactory to the Commission for the protection of parties interested. During any period in which a utility shall charge increased rates under bond, it shall provide records or other evidence of payments made by its subscribers or patrons under the rate or rates which the utility has put into operation in excess of the rate or rates in effect immediately prior to the filing of the schedule.

All increases in rates put into effect under the provisions of this section which are not approved and for which a refund is required shall bear interest at a rate of twelve percent per annum. The interest shall commence on the date the disallowed increase is paid and continue until the date the refund is made.

In all cases in which a refund is due the Commission shall order a total refund of the difference between the amount collected under bond and the amount finally approved.

(D) If the Commission fails to rule or issue its order within the time prescribed in subsections (B) or (C) of this section, the utility may put into effect the change in rates it requested in its schedule. The change is to be treated as an approval of the new rate schedule by the Commission.

(E) After the date the schedule is filed with the Commission, no further rate change request under this section may be filed until twelve months have elapsed from the date of the filing of the schedule; provided, however, this section shall not apply to a request for rate reduction.

(F) Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 58-27-860 and 58-27-870, the Commission may allow rates or tariffs to be put into effect without notice and hearing upon order of the Commission when such rates or tariffs do not require a determination of the entire rate structure and overall rate of return, or when the rates or tariffs do not result in any rate increase to the electrical utility, or when the rates or tariffs are for experimental purposes, or when the rates or tariffs so filed are otherwise necessary to obtain an orderly rate administration.

(G) The commission's determination of a fair rate of return must be documented fully in its findings of fact and based exclusively on reliable, probative, and substantial evidence on the whole record.

SECTION 58-27-920. Commission may require new rates after preliminary investigation.

The Commission may, after a preliminary investigation and upon such evidence as to it shall seem sufficient, order any electrical utility to put into effect such a schedule of rates as shall be deemed fair and reasonable, within such time as may be prescribed by order of the Commission, which shall be not less than fifteen days, and an attested copy of the order shall be served upon such utility by registered mail or otherwise as provided by law.

SECTION 58-27-930. Petition for hearing on change in rates by Commission; suspension of new rates pending hearing.

If any utility affected thereby objects to such order it may within ten days after service upon it of the copy of the order file a petition with the Commission stating the grounds of any such objection and demand a hearing thereon and it may require, if it so requests in the petition, that such schedule of rates be suspended pending the hearing. Any member of the public adversely affected by any such order of the Commission shall also have all the rights herein conferred on the utility affected.

SECTION 58-27-940. Order of Commission after hearing.

After the hearing the Commission by its order shall either confirm, modify, or vacate its former order, in conformity with what is found to be just and reasonable, and an attested copy of the order of the Commission must be immediately served on the utility affected by registered mail or otherwise, as provided by law. In case the original order of the Commission is confirmed or modified by making the order more favorable to the utility affected, the rates prescribed by the original order of the Commission or the modification of the order, as the case may be, are operative as of the time fixed by the original order. The utility affected shall put the same into effect as of the date fixed by the original order.

SECTION 58-27-950. No cause of action shall arise on original order unless petition for hearing filed.

No cause of action shall arise against the Commission in favor of any such utility by reason of the order first issued unless the utility shall first make application to the Commission for a hearing as herein provided for.

SECTION 58-27-960. Reparation orders; suits to enforce.

When complaint has been made to the Commission concerning any rate or charge for any electric current furnished or service performed by any electrical utility and the Commission has found after hearing and investigation that the electrical utility has charged an unreasonable, excessive or discriminatory amount for such electric current or service, the Commission may order that the electrical utility make due reparation to the complainant therefor, with interest from the date of collection; provided, however, that no unreasonable discrimination will result from such reparation. But no order for the payment of reparation upon the ground of unreasonableness shall be made by the Commission in any instance wherein the rate or charge in question has been authorized by law. No assignment of a reparation claim shall be recognized by the Commission except assignments by operation of law as in cases of death, insanity, bankruptcy, receivership or order of court. If the electrical utility does not comply with the order for the payment of reparation within the time specified in such order, suit may be instituted in any court of competent jurisdiction to recover the same, and upon trial of such suit a duly certified copy of the order of the Commission shall be prima facie evidence of the facts therein set forth. All complaints concerning unreasonable, excessive or discriminatory charges on which reparation orders may be made shall be filed with the Commission within two years from the time the cause of action accrues, and the suit for enforcement of the order shall be commenced in the court within one year from the date of the order of the Commission. The remedy in this section provided shall be cumulative and in addition to any other remedy or remedies in this chapter provided in case of failure of an electrical utility to obey an order or decision of the Commission.

SECTION 58-27-970. Participation in profits arising from efficiency.

For the purpose of encouraging economy, efficiency and improvements in methods or service any electrical utility may, subject to the approval of the Commission, participate to such extent as may be permitted by the Commission in additional profits arising from any economy, efficiency or improvement in methods or service instituted by such electrical utility.

SECTION 58-27-980. Contracts subject to control and approval of Commission.

No contract charge to be made to any person, corporation or municipality by any electrical utility for electricity to be furnished for light, heat or power established subsequent to March 24, 1922, shall be exempt from alteration, control, regulation and establishment by the Commission, when in its judgment the public interest so requires, to the full extent of the powers in relation to charges conferred upon the Commission by this chapter. Nor shall any contract establishing a rate or rates or any other contract affecting the use or disposition of its product or the charges to be paid therefor be entered into by any electrical utility without prior approval by the Commission, nor unless it be subject to amendment, modification, change or annulment by the Commission, if the public interest so requires. But nothing herein contained shall be construed to require the Commission's approval of a contract fixing a rate already approved by the Commission and then effective, if such contract rate is fixed subject to subsequent amendment, modification, change or annulment by the Commission. Full power and authority is hereby conferred on the Commission to accomplish the purposes expressed in this section.

SECTION 58-27-990. Contracts with other utilities.

Subject to the approval of the Commission, electrical utilities may contract with each other for the sale and purchase or exchange of electricity if such contract contain a provision that from its date it shall be subject to amendment, modification, change or annulment by the Commission, after due hearing, if the public interest so requires.

SECTION 58-27-1000. Charges for electricity established by municipal contract or franchise.

All charges for electricity for light, heat or power established by any franchise granted to or contract made prior to March 24, 1922 with any person or corporation by any municipality pursuant to and under the authority of the laws of this State are to be deemed excepted from the regulatory powers of the Commission and to be unaffected by the provisions of this chapter. All charges established by any franchise or municipal contract subsequent to March 24, 1922 shall be subject to the regulatory powers of the Commission and may be changed by it for proper cause under the provisions of this chapter. It is the purpose of this chapter to regulate such charges only to the extent that it may be done consistently with the Constitutions of this State and of the United States.

SECTION 58-27-1010. Commission shall not regulate contracts made by municipalities.

The Commission shall not regulate any contracts made by any municipality with its customers, and nothing in this chapter shall be construed as permitting the regulation by the Commission of the rates to be charged by any municipal plant to any of its customers, whether these customers be other municipalities, persons, firms or corporations.

SECTION 58-27-1020. Capitalization for rate-making purposes.

No electrical utility shall, for rate-making purposes, capitalize its franchises, rights, powers, privileges or right to own and operate or enjoy any such franchises, rights, powers or privileges in excess of the amount paid to the State or to any political subdivision of the State as the consideration for the grant thereof or so capitalize any lease, contract of sale or contract for consolidation or merger of two or more electrical utilities or issue by way of substitution any capital stock, trust certificates, bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness or other securities for any consolidated or merged company exceeding the aggregate values of the properties so consolidated or merged plus any additional sum of money actually contributed in cash and any additional property or labor actually contributed; and the determination of such consideration or value as aforesaid shall be subject to the approval of the Commission. The Commission shall not permit any electrical utility to do any of the things that an electrical utility is forbidden by this section to do.

SECTION 58-27-1030. Sales of appliances shall not be considered in rate making.

Every electrical utility shall keep separate accounts to show all profits or losses resulting from the sale of appliances or other merchandise, and no such profit or loss shall be taken into consideration by the Commission in arriving at any rate to be charged for service by any such electrical utility.

SECTION 58-27-1040. Certain sections cumulative.

Nothing contained in Sections 58-27-920 to 58-27-950 shall be construed to divest the Commission of any power otherwise possessed by it to regulate electrical utilities and the duties and powers thereby devolved upon the Commission are in addition to those otherwise imposed by law.

ARTICLE 9.

EXTENSION AND ABANDONMENT OF SERVICE; TRANSFER OF PROPERTY

SECTION 58-27-1210. Extension of facilities.

When ordered by the Commission after a hearing, any electrical utility, distribution electric cooperative, or consolidated political subdivision, may be required to establish, construct, maintain and operate any reasonable extension of its existing facilities. If any such extension, however, will interfere with the service or system of any other electrical utility, distribution electric cooperative, or consolidated political subdivision, the Commission may, on complaint and after hearing, either order the discontinuance of such extension or prescribe such terms and conditions with respect thereto as may be just and reasonable. Each electrical utility, distribution electric cooperative, and consolidated political subdivision, within areas assigned to it by the Commission and within three hundred feet of its lines, as defined in Section 58-27-610, shall be obligated to comply with all requests for service in accordance with its schedules of rates and service rules and regulations on file with the Commission.

SECTION 58-27-1220. Extensions by municipalities.

Any municipality operating its own plant or transmission system, if granted by the Commission a certificate of convenience and necessity as provided by Section 58-27-1230, may extend its lines and electrical service into any territory adjacent to such municipality, as well as into any nearby city or town if there is no electrical utility then operating in such city or town.

SECTION 58-27-1230. Certificate of public convenience and necessity shall be obtained prior to construction, operation or extension of system; exceptions.

No electrical utility, except a municipality within its corporate limits, shall hereafter begin the construction or operation of any electrical utility plant or system or of any extension thereof, except those ordered by the Commission under the provisions of Section 58-27-1210, without first obtaining from the Commission a certificate that public convenience and necessity require or will require such construction or operation. But unless such construction or operation has been commenced under a limited or conditional certificate of authority as provided by Section 58-27-1260, this section shall not be construed to require any such electrical utility to secure a certificate (a) for any extension within any municipality or district within which it had lawfully commenced operations prior to April 8, 1932, (b) for an extension within or to territory already served by it, necessary in the ordinary course of its business or (c) for an extension into territory contiguous to that already occupied by it and not receiving similar service from another electrical utility. No electrical utility, except a municipality within its corporate limits, shall exercise any right or privilege under any franchise or permit, the exercise of which has been suspended or discontinued for more than one year, without first obtaining from the Commission a certificate that public convenience and necessity require the exercise of such right or privilege.

SECTION 58-27-1240. Prerequisites to issuance of certificate.

Before any certificate may issue hereunder a certified copy of its articles of incorporation or charter, if the applicant be a corporation, shall be on file in the office of the Commission. Every applicant for a certificate shall give such notice of its application as the Commission may require and shall file in the office of the Commission such evidence as shall be required by the Commission to show that such applicant has received any consent of local authorities that might be required under article VIII, section 15, of the Constitution of this State.

SECTION 58-27-1250. Issuance or refusal of certificate or modified certificate.

The Commission may after hearing issue a certificate as prayed for or refuse to issue the same or may issue it for the construction or operation of a portion only of the contemplated facility, line, plant or system, or extension thereof or for the partial exercise only of the rights or privileges sought and may attach to the exercise of the rights granted by the certificate such terms and conditions in harmony with this chapter as in its judgment the public convenience and necessity may require.

SECTION 58-27-1260. Order preliminary to issuance of certificate.

If such electrical utility, except a municipality within its corporate limits, desires to exercise a right or privilege under a permit, consent or other authority which it contemplates securing but which has not as yet been granted to it, such electrical utility may apply to the Commission for an order preliminary to the issue of the certificate. The Commission may thereupon make an order declaring that it will thereafter, upon application, under such rules and regulations as it may prescribe, issue the desired certificate upon such terms and conditions as it may designate after such electrical utility has obtained the contemplated permit, consent or other authority. Upon the presentation to the Commission of evidence satisfactory to it that such permit, consent or other authority has been secured by such electrical utility the Commission shall thereupon issue such certificate.

SECTION 58-27-1270. Cease and desist order when construction or operation proceeds in absence of certificate.

Whenever an electrical utility, electric cooperative, consolidated political subdivision, public utility district, governmental body or agency, or another person or corporation, is engaged or is about to engage in construction or operation without having secured a certificate of public convenience and necessity as required by the provisions of this chapter, or otherwise in violation thereof, any interested electrical utility, electric cooperative, consolidated political subdivision, corporation or municipality may file a complaint with the Commission. The Commission may, with or without notice, make its order requiring the party complained of to cease and desist from such construction or operation until the Commission may, after hearing, make such order and prescribe such terms and conditions in harmony with this chapter as are just and reasonable.

SECTION 58-27-1280. Order where construction or extension causes unreasonable interference.

If any electrical utility, rural electric cooperative, or any governmental body or agency which owns or operates equipment or facilities for generating, transmitting, delivering, or furnishing electricity in this State, in constructing or extending its lines, plant, or system, unreasonably interferes or is about to interfere unreasonably with the service or system of any other electrical utility, rural electric cooperative, or governmental body or agency, the commission on complaint of the electrical utility, rural electric cooperative, or governmental body or agency complaining to be injuriously affected may, after hearing, make orders and prescribe terms and conditions in harmony with this chapter as are just and reasonable including the removal of lines and the issuance of a cease and desist order to the electrical utility, rural electric cooperative, or governmental body or agency causing the interference.

SECTION 58-27-1290. Abandonment of service.

No electrical utility shall abandon all or any portion of its service to the public, except for ordinary discontinuance of service for nonpayment of undisputed charges in the usual course of business, unless written application is first made to the Commission for the issuance of a certificate authorizing the same, and until the Commission in its discretion issues such certificate after a public hearing of all parties appearing to the Commission to be interested. In any such case any interested party shall have the right within fifteen days after the final order of the Commission to apply to the Supreme Court for a review thereof, and in such case no such abandonment shall be permitted until such appeal shall be heard and the Supreme Court shall by order permit the same.

No electrical utility, without the approval of the commission and compliance with all other existing requirements of the laws of the State in relation thereto, may sell, assign, transfer, lease, consolidate, or merge its utility property, powers, franchises, or privileges, or any of them, except that any electrical utility which has utility property, the fair market value of which is one million dollars or less, may sell, assign, transfer, lease, consolidate, or merge this property without prior approval of the commission. The commission may, at its discretion, hold a hearing on the request of an electrical utility to sell, assign, transfer, lease, consolidate, or merge its utility property, powers, franchises, or privileges, or any of them. An electric utility seeking approval of a transfer under this provision shall serve a copy of the application on the South Carolina Consumer Advocate. For purposes of this section, "utility property" shall include property used and useful to provide customers with electric service and which has been properly included in the electric utility's rate base, including construction work in progress or property held to serve future customers. Utility property that has been transferred to nonutility accounts shall continue to be treated as utility property under this provision for five years following the transfer.

SECTION 58-27-1310. Lease of property and franchises.

Any electric light company organized under the laws of this State may lease its property and franchises to any other electric light company, upon such terms as may be agreed upon by a majority of the stockholders at a special meeting called after thirty days' advertisement.

Any electrical utility operating in a city or town under an indeterminate permit shall be deemed to have consented to the purchase by such city or town for just compensation, including severance damages, if any, of the property of such electrical utility operated in such city or town under such permit.

When the municipal council or other governing body of any city or town, after a public hearing of which at least thirty days' notice has been given, by ordinance or resolution duly adopted by a majority vote, expresses a desire and declares its purpose to acquire for such city or town the property of an electrical utility so operated therein as authorized under the provisions of this chapter, immediate notice by registered mail of the action of such municipal council or governing body shall be given by it to the Commission, to such electrical utility and to all of its mortgagees or other lienors appearing of record in the county in which such city or town is situated.

SECTION 58-27-1340. Determination of just compensation by Commission.

When the Commission has thus been notified that such city or town has thus expressed its desire and purpose to purchase the property of the electrical utility operated under the indeterminate permit in such city or town and has also been notified that the parties to such purchase and sale have been unable to agree upon the amount to be paid and received therefor, the Commission shall, after not less than thirty days' notice to such city or town and to such electrical utility as well as to all of its mortgagees and lienors appearing of record in the county in which such city or town is situated, hold a public hearing upon the matter of just compensation, including severance damages if any, to be paid for the taking of such property by such city or town. Within a reasonable time after such public hearing the Commission shall by order fix and determine and certify to the clerk of such city or town, to the electrical utility and to any bondholder, mortgagee, lienor or other interested party who has entered an appearance in the proceeding the just compensation, including such damages if any. The order of the Commission may be reviewed as provided in this chapter for the review of other orders of the Commission.

SECTION 58-27-1350. Payment of compensation and transfer of property after approval in municipal election.

After the amount of compensation and damages has been finally fixed the same shall be paid by the city or town and the property shall be transferred by the electrical utility within not more than ninety days, and upon such transfer the indeterminate permit of such electrical utility, to the extent that it applies to such city or town, shall be deemed cancelled. But such purchase by the city or town shall not be consummated unless approved by a majority vote of the electors in such city or town who are qualified to vote on its bonded indebtedness at an election held after the amount of the compensation and damages has been finally fixed. If such purchase is not approved by the electors or if so approved and the city or town shall not comply or legally tender compliance with its proposed purchase within ninety days after the amount of compensation and damages has been finally fixed, the electrical utility shall be released from its obligation to convey under the proceedings had.

SECTION 58-27-1360. Acquisition of property of supplier of electricity when area annexed to or incorporated as municipality.

When any area in which electric service is being furnished at wholesale or retail by a supplier of electricity including municipal corporations, public or governmental agencies, and rural electric cooperatives, is incorporated as a city or town or is annexed to an existing incorporated city or town, the city or town or, with the consent of the governing body of such city or town, an electrical utility furnishing electricity in that city or town by franchise, contract, permit, or other consent, have the right to acquire the property of a supplier of electricity brought within corporate limits upon a finding by the commission pursuant to subsection (B) of Section 58-27-650 that inadequate, undependable, or unreasonably discriminatory service is being provided and upon payment of just compensation. The supplier of electricity having property or facilities in areas incorporated as a city or town or annexed into an existing city or town has the right to compel the city or town or an electrical utility operating in that city or town pursuant to a franchise, contract, permit, or other consent to purchase the facilities and properties and to compel the payment of just compensation. The city or town may not elect to purchase nor give its consent to a purchase by another supplier of electricity until the commission has ruled upon adequacy of service, and it has first given ten days' written notice to the suppliers concerned of its intention to purchase or consent to the purchase of property situate within the limits of the municipality used for providing electric service in the municipality.

Within ten days after notice is given that the right to acquire or sell the facilities and properties is exercised, the parties shall each select a representative in order to reach an agreement on just compensation. The selling supplier shall make its pertinent books and records available to the representative of the purchasing supplier. If the representatives are unable to agree on just compensation within a period of sixty days, they shall jointly request the resident judge of the judicial circuit in which the facilities and properties to be purchased are situate to submit a list of five disinterested persons from which the selection of an arbiter must be made. The resident judge shall submit the list within five days after receipt of a request. Within five days after receipt of the list from the resident judge, the representatives of the parties shall meet, and each party has alternate strikes, the first strike to be chosen by lot, until one person remains on the list, and this person is the arbiter, whose expenses and fee for service rendered, as assessed by him against either or both parties, are subject to review by the resident judge. The arbiter shall give each representative an opportunity to be heard, and his decision on just compensation, including reasonable expenses, engineers' and attorneys' fees justifiably incurred by the selling supplier as allowed by the arbiter, is final and binding on the parties.

If either party fails to act during the time limitation set forth above for the accomplishment of a particular step within this procedure without the consent of the other party, then the party failing to act forfeits his rights in the selection of an arbiter and his rights to be heard by the arbiter.

For the purposes of this section, "just compensation" consists of the total of the following:

(a) Reproduction cost, new, of the facilities being acquired, less depreciation on a straight-line basis;

(b) Cost of reintegrating the system of the selling supplier after detaching the portion to be sold (including allowance for idle substation, transmission, and generation capacity caused in the remaining portion of the system or of any supplying systems, the cost of which is borne in whole or in part by the selling system);

(c) An additional amount, in recognition of the loss of revenue of greater than average value, equivalent to two and one-half times the gross revenue derived by the selling supplier from the consumers on the lines being acquired during the twelve months next preceding the first of the month in which notice of purchase was given the selling supplier.

The total sum paid by an electrical utility or municipality under the provisions of this section for acquisition of facilities is the original cost of the facilities to be entered on its books and records for all accounting purposes, including rate making.

ARTICLE 11.

ADEQUACY OF SERVICE, REPORTS, ACCOUNTS, AND THE LIKE

SECTION 58-27-1510. Service shall be adequate, efficient and reasonable.

Whenever the Commission, after a hearing had upon its own motion or upon complaint, finds that the service of any electrical utility is unreasonable, unsafe, inadequate, insufficient or unreasonably discriminatory the Commission shall determine the reasonable, safe, adequate and sufficient service to be observed, furnished, enforced or employed and shall fix the same by its order, rule or regulation.

SECTION 58-27-1530. Certain wires shall not be erected near public road.

No electric light or power wire shall be erected or maintained within fifty yards of any public road or highway in this State, unless it be so constructed, erected and maintained and provided with sufficient lightning guards or arresters, automatic cut-offs and other devices as may be necessary for the protection of persons and property. Any person erecting or maintaining any such wire in violation of the provisions hereof shall forfeit and pay as a penalty therefor five dollars a day for each day such violation continues after the expiration of thirty days from the date on which he may have been given a written notice specifying the fault or defect in the manner of erection, construction or maintenance thereof. Such penalty may be recovered at the suit of any citizen in any county in which such violation shall occur and the sum so recovered, after paying therefrom all the expenses incurred in the prosecution of such suit, shall be paid into the county treasury for such county for ordinary county purposes.

SECTION 58-27-1540. System of accounts.

The Commission shall establish a system of accounts to be kept by electrical utilities subject to its jurisdiction and it may prescribe the manner in which the accounts shall be kept. Every electrical utility shall keep its books, papers and records accurately and faithfully according to the system of accounts and all regulations and directions in relation thereto prescribed by the Commission.

SECTION 58-27-1550. Annual depreciation; depreciation reserve.

Every electrical utility may, and may be required to, charge annually as an operating expense a reasonable sum for depreciation and credit the same to a reserve account for such purpose. Such reserve account shall be charged only with plant retirements and expenditures made to restore depreciated property. But if the reserve thus created shall at any time in the judgment of the Commission be excessive, the Commission after due hearing shall make such order as will result in the credits to such reserve thereafter conforming to actual facts and conditions as ascertained by the Commission. The Commission may control or limit such depreciation reserve.

SECTION 58-27-1560. Office of utility; removal of books and papers from State.

Each electrical utility shall have an office in one of the counties of this State in which its property or some part thereof is located and shall keep in such office all books, accounts, papers and records as shall be required by the Commission to be kept within the State. No books, accounts, papers or records required by the Commission to be kept within the State shall be removed at any time from the State except upon such conditions as may be prescribed by the Commission.

SECTION 58-27-1570. Commission may require production of books and records for examination.

The Commission may require, by order served on any electrical utility in the manner provided in Section 58-27-1970, the production within this State at such time and place as it may designate, of any books, accounts, papers or records of the electrical utility relating to its business or affairs within the State, pertinent to any lawful inquiry and kept by such electrical utility in any office or place within or without this State or, at its option, verified copies in lieu thereof, so that an examination thereof may be made by the Commission or under its direction.

Every electrical utility shall furnish the Commission in such form and in such detail as the Commission may require all tabulations, computations and other information required by the Commission to carry into effect any of the provisions of this chapter and shall make special answer to all questions submitted by the Commission. Each electrical utility receiving from the Commission any blanks with directions to fill out the same shall cause the same to be properly filled out so as to answer fully and correctly each question propounded therein and it shall return the same to the Commission within the time required. But in case any electrical utility is unable to answer any question it shall so state with good and sufficient reasons therefor. When required by the Commission, each electrical utility shall deliver to the Commission copies of any or all maps, profiles, contracts, franchises, reports, books, accounts, papers and records in its possession or in any way relating to its property or affecting its business and also a complete inventory of its property in such form as the Commission may direct. Each electrical utility shall, when required by the Commission, furnish in such form as the Commission may require all such reports as it may be directed by the Commission to furnish in relation to its operations, property or business, and the Commission may require either periodical or special reports concerning any matter as to which it desires to inquire in order to keep itself informed in the performance of its duties under this chapter. All reports shall be under oath by such officer or officers of the electrical utility as may be required by the Commission.

SECTION 58-27-1590. Meters to measure electricity going into or out of State; records and reports thereof.

When any electrical utility is engaged in both interstate business and intrastate business in this State and at any time transmits electricity either into or from this State (a) by the use, either wholly or in part, of any transmission line or other facilities also used in intrastate service in this State, (b) if such electricity is generated by the use, either wholly or in part, of any facilities also used in intrastate service in this State or (c) if such electricity is a part of any supply of electricity acquired by purchase, exchange or any means other than actual generation and any part of such supply of electricity is also at any time used in intrastate service in this State, the Commission may require such electrical utility to maintain at or near the State line, within this State, a meter or meters of a type or types to be approved by the Commission before installation which shall accurately and separately measure and register such electricity coming into and going out of this State. Any such electrical utility shall make such records and reports of the meter readings as the Commission may require, all to the end that the Commission in the performance of its duties in relation to intrastate operations and rates in this State may at all times be able to determine with reasonable accuracy the results of the intrastate operations in this State of such electrical utility apart from its interstate operation or its operations in any other state or states and to segregate with reasonable precision the property devoted to interstate service or to the services of any other state or states.

ARTICLE 13.

ISSUANCE AND SALES OF SECURITIES

SECTION 58-27-1710. Securities shall not be issued without approval of Commission; exceptions.

No electrical utility, except a municipality, shall issue any securities without the approval of the Commission. Nothing herein contained shall apply to any issue of securities payable within one year from the date thereof, except in case of issues made to refund such short-time obligations; but such short-time obligations may be renewed by similar obligations without the approval of the Commission for an aggregate period of not exceeding two years.

SECTION 58-27-1720. Application for approval.

Any electrical utility, except a municipality, desiring to issue any securities may apply to the Commission for approval of the proposed issue by filing with the Commission an application, together with a statement verified by (a) its president and secretary or other proper officers, (b) two of its incorporators or (c) by its owner or owners, if it have no such officers, setting forth:

(1) The amount and character of securities proposed to be issued;

(2) The purpose for which they are to be issued;

(3) The consideration for which they are to be issued;

(4) The description and estimated value of the property, if any, to be acquired through the proposed issue;

(5) The terms and conditions of their issuance; and

(6) The financial condition of the electrical utility and its previous operations so far as relevant.

SECTION 58-27-1730. Investigation and decision of Commission; certificate of authority.

The Commission shall thereupon make such investigation as may be necessary, at which investigation the electrical utility shall be entitled to be heard. The Commission shall determine whether the purpose of the issue is proper, shall value the property or services, if any, to be acquired by the issue and it shall find and determine the amount of such securities reasonably necessary for the purpose for which they are to be issued. To the extent that the Commission may approve the proposed issue it shall grant to the electrical utility a certificate of authority stating:

(1) The amount of such securities reasonably necessary for the purpose for which they are to be issued and the character of the same; and

(2) The value of any property or services, if any, to be acquired thereby.

Nothing herein contained shall be construed to impose or imply any guaranty or obligation as to such securities on the part of the State or any agency thereof, nor shall the Commission by virtue of the approval of the issuance of such securities be deemed to be required to prescribe or approve any rate for the reason that such rate may be necessary to provide funds reasonably sufficient to retire such securities or the interest thereon.

SECTION 58-27-1740. Limitation of amount and use of proceeds of issue.

Such electrical utility shall not issue any securities in greater amounts than specified in such certificate and shall apply the proceeds of such issue to the purposes specified in its petition.

SECTION 58-27-1750. Certain sales of securities by or to employees prohibited.

No electrical utility shall:

(1) Permit any employee to sell, offer for sale or solicit the purchase of any security of such utility or of any other person or corporation during such hours as such employee is engaged to perform any duty of such electrical utility;

(2) By any means or device whatsoever require any employee to purchase or contract to purchase any of its securities or those of any other person or corporation; nor

(3) Require any employee to permit the deduction from his wages or salary of any sum as a payment or to be applied as a payment on any purchase or contract to purchase any security of such electrical utility or of any other person or corporation.

SECTION 58-27-1760. Permissible sales of securities to employees.

Operating electrical utility companies may offer to their employees opportunities to purchase their securities, and may permit deductions from their wages or salaries to be applied on the payment of such purchases; provided that such offers shall permit only bona fide voluntary action on the part of the employees, and shall in no way require or coerce any employee into entering into or subscribing to any such plan.

The Commission may prescribe rules governing pleadings, practice and procedure before it not inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter or any other provisions of law.

SECTION 58-27-1920. Hearings and the like shall be governed by law and rules of Commission.

All hearings, investigations and proceedings shall be governed by law and by rules of practice and procedure adopted by the Commission.

SECTION 58-27-1930. Additional hearings; notice thereof.

The Commission may, in addition to the hearings specifically provided for by this chapter, conduct such other hearings as may be required in the administration of the powers and duties conferred upon it by this chapter and by other acts relating to electrical utilities. Notice of all such hearings shall be given those interested therein.

SECTION 58-27-1940. Filing of complaint against utility.

The Commission on its own motion or any person, corporation or municipality having an interest in the subject matter, including any electrical utility concerned, may complain in writing setting forth any act or thing done or omitted to be done by any electrical utility in violation, or claimed violation, of any law which the Commission has jurisdiction to administer or of any order or rule of the Commission.

SECTION 58-27-1950. Service of copy of complaint.

Upon the filing of a complaint the Commission shall cause a copy thereof to be served upon the person, corporation or electrical utility complained of.

SECTION 58-27-1960. Issuance and service of subpoenas and other process.

The Commission and each commissioner may issue subpoenas, subpoenas duces tecum and all other necessary processes in proceedings pending before it, and such process shall extend to all parts of the State and may be served by any person authorized by law to serve processes.

SECTION 58-27-1970. Manner in which complaints or notices shall be served.

Service of all complaints or notices in all hearings, investigations and proceedings pending before the Commission, except service of the processes provided for by Section 58-27-1960, may be made personally or by mail as the Commission may direct.

SECTION 58-27-1980. Time, place and notice of hearing.

The Commission shall fix the time and place of all hearings and shall serve notice thereof not less than twenty days before the time set for such hearing, unless the Commission shall find that public necessity requires that such hearing be held at an earlier date, in which event the notice shall be reasonable in view of all the circumstances.

SECTION 58-27-1990. Dismissal of complaint without hearing.

The Commission may dismiss any complaint without a hearing if in its opinion a hearing is not necessary in the public interest or for the protection of substantial rights.

The Commission and each of the commissioners, for the purposes mentioned in this chapter, may administer oaths, examine witnesses and certify official acts.

SECTION 58-27-2010. Contempt proceedings.

In case of failure on the part of any person to comply with any lawful order of the Commission or of any commissioner or with any subpoena or subpoena duces tecum or in the case of the refusal of any witness to testify concerning any matter on which he may be interrogated lawfully, any court of record of general jurisdiction, or a judge thereof, may on application of the Commission or of a commissioner compel obedience by proceedings for contempt as in the case of disobedience of the requirements of a subpoena issued from such court or a refusal to testify therein.

SECTION 58-27-2020. Investigations, inquiries or hearings by one or more commissioners.

Any investigation, inquiry, or hearing which the Commission has power to undertake or hold may be undertaken or held by or before any one or more of the commissioners, upon condition, however, that such commissioner or commissioners shall have been authorized by the Commission to undertake or hold such investigation, inquiry or hearing. Each investigation, inquiry or hearing before or by any such commissioner or commissioners shall be deemed to be the investigation, inquiry and hearing of the Commission. Any determination, ruling or order of a commissioner or commissioners, upon any such investigation, inquiry or hearing undertaken or held by him or them shall not become effective until due notice has been given to the Commission and the same has been approved and confirmed by at least a quorum of the Commission and ordered to be filed in its office. Upon such confirmation and order, determination, ruling or order shall be the determination, ruling or order of the Commission.

SECTION 58-27-2030. Employment and duties of special agent or examiner.

In any investigation, inquiry or hearing the Commission may employ a special agent or examiner who shall have power to administer oaths, examine witnesses and receive evidence in any locality which the Commission, having regard to the public convenience and the proper discharge of its functions and duties, may designate. The testimony and evidence so taken or received shall have the same force and effect as if taken or received by the Commission or any one or more of the commissioners as above provided.

SECTION 58-27-2040. Persons entitled to be heard at hearing and to introduce evidence.

At the time fixed for any hearing before the Commission or a commissioner or the time to which the same may have been continued the complainant and the person, corporation or electrical utility complained of shall be entitled to be heard and to introduce evidence, in person or by attorney.

SECTION 58-27-2050. Depositions.

The Commission, any commissioner or any party to the proceedings may, in any investigation or hearing before the Commission, cause the depositions of witnesses residing within or without the State to be taken in the manner prescribed by law for taking depositions in civil actions in the courts of this State.

No person shall be excused from testifying or from producing any book, document, paper or account in any investigation or inquiry by, or hearing before, the Commission or any commissioner, when ordered to do so, upon the ground that the testimony or evidence, book, document, paper or account required of him may tend to incriminate him or subject him to penalty or forfeiture; but no person shall be prosecuted, punished or subjected to any forfeiture or penalty for or on account of any act, transaction, matter or thing concerning which he shall have been compelled under oath to testify or produce documentary evidence. But no person so testifying shall be exempt from prosecution or punishment for any perjury committed by him in his testimony.

SECTION 58-27-2070. Copies of official documents and orders as evidence.

Copies of official documents and orders filed or deposited according to law in the office of the Commission, certified by a commissioner or by the secretary of the Commission under its official seal to be true copies of the original, shall be evidence in like manner as the originals in all matters before the Commission and in the courts of this State. The Commission by rule may prescribe reasonable charges to be paid for furnishing authenticated copies of such documents and orders.

SECTION 58-27-2080. Compensation of witnesses.

Witnesses who are summoned before the Commission shall be paid by the party or parties at whose instance they are summoned the same fees and mileage as are paid to witnesses in the courts of common pleas of this State, and witnesses whose depositions are taken pursuant to the provisions of this chapter and the officer taking the same shall be entitled to be paid by the party or parties at whose instance the deposition is taken the same fees as are paid for like services in the courts of common pleas of this State.

SECTION 58-27-2090. Charges by affiliated interests.

When in the judgment of the Commission there is a reasonably substantial affiliation of any electrical utility engaged in business in this State with any other corporation or person or when in the judgment of the Commission any other corporation or person either exercises or is in position to exercise, by reason of ownership or control of securities or for any other cause, any reasonably substantial control over the business or policies of any electrical utility engaged in business in this State, the burden of proof shall be upon the electrical utility to establish as determined by the Commission the reasonableness, fairness, and absence of injurious effect upon the public interest of any fees or charges growing out of any transactions between any electrical utility and such other corporation or person (a) in relation to supervision, management, construction or engineering, services or contract, (b) for the sale of material, supplies, equipment, or other commodities or (c) for any other purpose. Every electrical utility shall be required to produce, if so ordered by the Commission, for the information of the Commission all such contracts, papers, and documents relating thereto and explanatory thereof as may be required by the Commission, and unless the reasonableness, fairness, and absence of injurious effect upon the public interest of such fees and charges are established as determined by the Commission, the same shall not be allowed by the Commission for rate-making purposes.

The Commission shall not allow for rate-making purposes any fees or expenses included in any contract or agreement with an affiliate representing charges that the Commission has directly disallowed in its rate-making orders.

SECTION 58-27-2100. Findings and orders of Commission.

After the conclusion of a hearing the Commission shall make and file its findings and order with its opinion, if any. Its findings shall be in sufficient detail to enable the court on review to determine the controverted questions presented by the proceeding and whether proper weight was given to the evidence.

SECTION 58-27-2110. Service of orders on parties.

A copy of such order, certified under the seal of the Commission, shall be served either personally or by registered mail upon the person, corporation or electrical utility against whom it runs, or his or its attorney, and notice thereof shall be given either personally or by registered mail to the other parties to the proceedings or their attorneys.

SECTION 58-27-2120. Effective date of orders.

The order shall take effect and become operative twenty days after the service thereof, unless otherwise provided, and shall continue in force either for a period which may be designated therein or until changed or revoked by the Commission. If an order cannot, in the judgment of the Commission, be complied with within twenty days, the Commission may grant and prescribe such additional time as in its judgment is reasonably necessary to comply with the order and may, on application and for good cause shown, extend the time for compliance fixed in its order.

SECTION 58-27-2130. Rescission or amendment of orders or decisions.

The Commission may at any time, except in those cases provided for in Section 58-27-2150, after notice and after opportunity to be heard as provided in the case of complaints, rescind or amend any order or decision made by it. Any order rescinding or amending a prior order or decision, after notice thereof, either personal or by registered mail, has been given to the electrical utility affected and to the other parties to the proceedings, shall have the same effect as is herein provided for original orders or decisions, but no such order shall affect the legality or validity of any acts done pursuant to the original order before service of notice of such change.

SECTION 58-27-2140. Records of proceedings shall be kept.

A full and complete record shall be kept of all proceedings had before the Commission or any commissioner on any formal hearing, and all testimony shall be taken down by a reporter appointed by the Commission.

SECTION 58-27-2150. Rehearings.

After an order or decision has been made by the Commission any party to the proceedings may within ten days after service of notice of the entry of the order or decision apply for a rehearing in respect to any matter determined in such proceedings and specified in the application for rehearing, and the Commission may, in case it appears to be proper, grant and hold such rehearing. The Commission shall either grant or refuse an application for rehearing within twenty days, and a failure by the Commission to act upon such application within that period shall be deemed a refusal thereof. If the application be granted the Commission's order shall be deemed vacated, and the Commission shall enter a new order after the rehearing has been concluded.

Any party in interest being dissatisfied with an order of the Commission may commence an action in any court of competent jurisdiction against the Commission and other interested parties as defendants to vacate or set aside, either in whole or in part, any such order on the ground that the order is unlawful or unreasonable. But no cause of action shall accrue to vacate or set aside, either in whole or in part, any order of the Commission, except an order on a rehearing, unless a petition to the Commission for a rehearing has been filed and refused or deemed refused because of the Commission's failure to act thereon within twenty days. Any action brought hereunder must be commenced within thirty days from the date of service of notice of the order of the Commission on a rehearing or of its refusal of a petition for rehearing, either by order or failure to act thereon within twenty days.

SECTION 58-27-2320. Stay or suspension of Commission's order pending review.

The pendency of proceedings to review shall not of itself stay or suspend the operation of the order of the Commission, but during the pendency of such proceedings the court, upon reasonable notice and after hearing, in its discretion may stay or suspend, either in whole or in part, the operation of the Commission's order on such terms as it deems just and in accordance with the practice of the court. Any party shall have the right to secure from the court in which a review of the order of the Commission is in good faith sought an order suspending or staying the operation of the order of the Commission, pending a review of such order, by adequately securing all persons, corporations and municipalities who will be affected by such suspension or stay against loss due to the delay in the enforcement of the order, in case the order under review is affirmed, the security to be approved and to be in such form and amount as shall be directed by the court granting the stay or suspension.

SECTION 58-27-2330. Priority of hearing.

All actions and proceedings for review under this chapter and all actions or proceedings to which the Commission or the State or any of its governmental agencies may be parties and in which any question arises under this chapter or under or concerning any order or decision of the Commission thereunder shall be given priority of hearing in all courts over all other civil causes except election cases, irrespective of position on the calendar.

SECTION 58-27-2340. Burden of proof shall be on complainant.

In all actions and proceedings arising under this chapter or growing out of the exercise of the powers herein granted to the Commission the burden of proof shall be on the party attacking any order of the Commission to show that the same is unlawful or unreasonable.

ARTICLE 19.

PENALTIES

SECTION 58-27-2410. General penalty.

Any person or corporation violating any provision of this chapter, other than Section 58-27-1530, or failing, omitting or neglecting to obey, observe or comply with any lawful order of the Commission, or any part or provision thereof, shall be subject to a penalty of not less than one hundred dollars nor more than five thousand dollars for each offense and reasonable expenses including attorney's fees.

Every violation of a provision of this chapter or of any lawful order of the Commission, or any part thereof, by any corporation or person is a separate and distinct offense and in case of a continuing violation each day's continuance thereof shall be deemed to be a separate and distinct offense.

SECTION 58-27-2430. Penalties shall be cumulative; suit for one penalty shall not bar another suit.

All penalties accruing under this chapter shall be cumulative, and a suit for the recovery of one penalty shall not be a bar to or affect the recovery of any other penalty or forfeiture or be a bar to any criminal prosecution against any electrical utility or any officer, director, agent or employee thereof or any other corporation or person.

SECTION 58-27-2440. Actions to recover penalties shall be in name of State.

Actions to recover penalties under this chapter shall be brought in the name of the State in any court of competent jurisdiction.

SECTION 58-27-2450. Principals responsible for act of agents.

In construing and enforcing the provisions of this chapter relating to penalties the act, omission or failure of any officer, agent or employee of any corporation or person acting within the scope of his official duties or employment shall in every case be deemed to be also the act, omission or failure of such corporation or person.

SECTION 58-27-2460. Penalties not applicable to municipality but to officers, agents or employees personally.

The penalties herein prescribed shall not be deemed to apply to municipalities, but the act, omission or failure of an officer, agent or employee of a municipality constituting a violation of this chapter or of any lawful order of the Commission, or any part thereof, although acting for the municipality, shall subject him personally to the penalties herein prescribed.